Machine for application of sleeves to valve bags



ct. 4, 1949. E, W VREDENBURG I 2,483,860

MACHINE FOR APPLICATION OF SLEEVES TO VALVE BAGS Filed July 31, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I si N Nw fm Q t 2 Q u n [Q n amr/0N C STAT/0N G STA T/ON D ATTURNEVS.

CL 4, 1949. E, W, VREDENBURG 2,483,860

MACHINE FOR APPLICATION OF SLEEVES TO VALVE BAGS Filed July 51, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Edf/'c W We danbury A TOR/VEY.

Oct. 4, 1949. I E. W. VREDENBURG MACHINE FOR APPLICATION OF SLEE'VES TO VALVE BAGS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 31, 1945 lm lmnm@ lmlmHlHH MM/ P' A TTOfF/VEs/s.

Oct 4,1949. i E. w. VREDENBURG 2,483,860

MACHINE FOR APPLICATION OF SLEEVES TO VALVE BAGS Filed July 51, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l LU FIE E IN VEN TOR.

Edf/'c Vl/. l//ec/enbur BY A TTO/VEVS.

Patented Oct. 4, 1949 UNITED STATES MACHINE FOR APPLICATION F SLEEVES TO VALVE BAGS Edric W. Vredenburg, Berkeley, Calif., assignor to St. Regis Paper Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 31, 1945, Serial No. 607,977

Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of bags, and particularly to improvements in apparatus for applying supplemental sheets to valved bags to form sleeves in the respective valves.

Bags of this general character are manufactured of kraft paper, or the like, several sheets of the material being fed simultaneously from a continuous supply to form a continuous multilayer tubular structure. This is suitably creased to form a gusset along each side of the bag, and cut into desired lengths to form bag blanks of predetermined size. One corner of each bag blank is then folded inwardly in a well-known way and creased to form a valve therein, and a supplemental sheet is applied in the valve to thereby form a sleeve through which a filling tube may be inserted. After the sleeving operation, the bag is closed in any well-known manner, for example, by sewing. The bag may then be filled and the sleeve tucked in upon itself to seal the bag contents.

Heretofore, the supplemental sheet has usually been inserted by hand, and such a hand operation ,f

represents a relatively slow and necessarily expensive portion of the manufacturing operation. The present invention is concerned with a relatively simple machine for applying and securing the supplemental sheet to reduce, simplify and facilitate the manual operations required, and to produce a sleeved valve bag in which the sleeve is accurately positioned.

Various further and more specific objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from the description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating by way of example a, preferred form of the invention. The invention consists in such novel features and combinations as may be shown and described in connection with the apparatus herein disclosed.

Referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation with certain units of trating the folding of the supplemental sheet by certain parts ofthe machine;

Fig. 6 is a plan View of one of the supplemental sheets;

Fig. '7 is a View looking downwardly at an angle toward the valve portion of a bag, the gusset and Valve portions being spread apart in position to receive a supplemental sheet; and

Fig. 8 is a side view of'a bag with the sleeve in position.

The construction and operation of the principal parts of a present preferred embodiment of the nvention will first be summarized. The machine may comprise a constantly rotating table 22 having at spaced points about its periphery a plurality of mechanisms 5l which will hereinafter be referred to as sleeving devices, these devices preferably being all of like construction and each having a generally horizontal and slightly upwardly inclined protruding plate portion 53 and a cooperating inclined back plate or support 54 extending upwardly and rearwardly from the plate portion 53.

The supplemental sheets as at 11 (Fig. 6) which are to form valve sleeves are prepared just prior to application to the machine by creasing as at 'i9 and by the application of a stripe of adhesive 8l thereto, as by any suitable known means or methods. That is, a stripe 8i of glue or other adhesive may be applied along near one edge of the sheet and the sheet is creased along and inwardly of such stripe in preparation for folding over a longitudinal band or strip 83 of the sheet, bearing the adhesive stripe.

The operator of the vmachine of the present invention takes the sheets thus prepared and places them respectively in the sleeving devices as these devices successivelyv pass the operators position, for example, at station A (Fig. 1). The main body portion 84 of each such sheet is placed in the sleeving device so as to rest against the inclined back plate or support 54 and with the line of creasing i9 resting upon or along close to the protruding plate portion 53 (see Fig. 4) And the strip or band 83 of the sheet which bears the stripe of adhesive-8| rests in an outwardly di'- rected position upon said protruding plate portion and with the adhesive stripe facing upwardly. With the sheet thus in place, as-the sleeving device moves past the next position or station, an operatorslides the spread-out Valve portions of a bag onto the protruding plate portion 53, which is so shaped as to hold the valve portion spread out as a substantially plane surface, as shown in Fig. 7. As the bag is thus positioned, the inner edge 6l of the valve portion comes into a position to overlie the strip or band 83 on the sheet which bears the stripe of adhesive 8|.

As the bag valve portions are thus thrust into position, the inner edge portions 6| of the valve come into engagement with the crease 1S in the supplemental sheet and thus tend to push the creased portion inwardly of the machine, with the result that the main body portion 84 of the sheet tends to fold over outwardly of the valve.

Then, as the sleeving device 5| moves to the next positions or stations C and/or D, mechanism is provided including a folding bar 6,2 (Figs. 3-5) for completing the operation of `folding over the main body portion 84 of the sheet firmly into position overlying the plane spreadout valve portions of the bag as shown in Fig. 3. This folding bar may be operated by suitable cam and linkage arrangements hereinafter described, actuated by reason of the rotation of the table. As the table turns to bring the sleeving device to the next position or positions (stations E and F), the folding bar acts to clamp the creased folded-over sheet portions firmly in position astride the inner edge of the plane spread-out valve portions, thus giving the adhesive opportunity to set and secure the sheet in place, with its main body portion protruding outwardly of the valve portion of the bag and with the glued band of the sheet hooked or folded under the inner edge portions v6| of the bag valve. As the sleeving device reaches a subsequent position, for example station G, the mechanism operates to turn the folding bar out of its clamping position, thus leaving lthe bag with the attached supplemental sheet free to be .removed from the machine by an operator, who may simultaneously bring the opposed bag walls together, thus creasing the supplemental sheet and attached valve along a center line |02 (Slg. 7) of the valve. If preferred, this final central creasing of the sheet (at right angles to the above-mentioned crease '19) may be accomplished by a :linger protruding from the folding bar so as to form the crease simultaneously with the clamping of the sheet in position on the `valve parts, but such automatic creasing is not necessary.

Referring now to the drawings in further detail, the machine may include a suitable frame structure. generally indicated` by l'iu-rneral l l, .the height of the frame being such that the operating elements are at a convenient height for the operators. The frame includes a top plate I2, a first intermediate transverse plate i3, a second intermediate plate or frame part M, and a bottom plate i6. Bearings 11, H are mounted upon plates l?. and i3. respectively, to support a hollow shaft i8 for rotation. The upper end of the hollow shaft carries a flanged thrust bearing member |9, which rides over a stationary thrust bearing member 2|. cooperatively positioned and carried by top plate I2. The rotatable table or plate 22 is secured to the thrust bearing i9.

To rotate the hollow shaft, a spur gear 23 is secured to the lower end thereof and is engaged by a spur gear 2A carried upon a shaft Z5. Shaft 26 is. supported in bearings 28, 2B mounted on the plate i3 and on the plate |15, respectively. A bevel gear 3| on shaft 26 is in engagement with a bevel gear 32 on a shaft ln a speed reducing unit, generally indicated at 33. and which unit is in turn driven from an electric motor 34. A stationary shaft 3B extends through the rotatable hollow shaft t8, the lower end of shaft 3B being secured to the plate H as at 31. The shaft 35 is suitably journaled in the hollow shaft E3 and extends above plate 22 to support, in a xed position, a cam indicated at 38, the shaft 35 having a collar 3S fixed thereon, which supports the cam 38.

Mounted upon table or plate 22 are the several sleeving devices 5|, upon which the respective bags are supported while the supplemental sheets are being applied thereto. Each sleeving device 5| includes a bottom plate member 52 secured adjacent the periphery of the circular plate 22, the several devices 5| being equally spaced about the plate. In the form shown on the drawings, I have indicated eight of these devices, but more or less can be included as desired, the number depending on the rate at which the supplemental sheets are to be inserted. The outer end of each piate member 52 includes the somewhat upwardly inclined valve-receiving plate portion 53 having beveled corners as at 53', Fig. 1, and a straight front edge portion 53", so that each valve-receiving portion 53 is adapted to properly spread and support the valve corner of a bag in a condition such .as shown in Fig. 7.

En the form of device shown, the inclined support er back plate 54 for the supplemental sheets has side guide plates 56a on each side thereof. The upper ends of the side plates 53a may be bent at right angles inwardly toward each other as at 56h to engage the upper edge .of the supplemental sheet to retain same against sliding np ont of proper Aposition during the subsequent operations.

The folding bar 52 for folding the supplemental -sheet about the .inner edge portion 6l of the bag valve to form a sleeve, extends across the plate portion .53 and is pivotally mounted at each end, as .bypins 66 which pass through members 85 disposed at opposite respective sides of each plate member 52. To rock the folding bar B2 about its pivot pins 6l), .a pair of spaced arms as at .53 (Figs. 1 and 4) are provided at the middle of each bar, A link member 68 is pivotally connected as at 64 between the arms 63. Rods il are pivotally connected on the link 555 as at r|53, .A spring 169 is connected between the pivot E8 and a pin 'H carried by attaching brackets 1|' nxed on the under side of plate 52, .said ,spring 59 functioning to take up backlash in the mechanism, and to yieldingly pull the linkage connections downwardly.

The rods 61 extend through an opening in flate 54 to one end .of a slide block 1| a, Fig. 2, mounted in a slide guide 12 xed on plate 22. The other end of each slide block 1|a carries a roller 14 which is urged into engagement with the cam 38 by a spring 13 which extends between block 1| a and a flanged member 4| loosely mounted on shaft 36. As the rolle-r 14 comes into engagement with the lobe of the cam 3,8, the rods 61 are moved to the left, Fig. 3, causing link 5B to move toward the left, Fig. 3, to thereby press the outer upper edge of the bar y|52 downwardly to apply pressure against the plate member 52, the spring 69 tending to pull the linkage downwardly so that yieldable pressure is applied to the folded sheet parts. As the roller 14 comes into engagement with a, low part of cam .38, the reverse action occurs, link 66 moving toward the right, Fig. 3, to thereby raise the outer upper edge of bar 62 from the plate member 52, whereupon the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 4.

The operation will now be described in further detail in connection with one of the sleeving devices 5| and it will be understood that each of the other sleeving devices 5l operatesin substantially the same manner. Operation of the motor 3,4, Fig. 2, is initiated, causing the table or plate 22 together with the sleeving devices 5I to rotate slowly in ay counterclockwise direction, Fig. l. As a sleeving device 5I passes station A for example, the operator takes a supplemental sheet, which has been creased and glued in the manner hereinbefore described, and places said sheet upon said sleeving device 5I in the manner above explained, and as shown in Fig. 4. It will be noted that, at this station, roller 14 is in engagement with a low part of cam 38 so that the outer edge of the folding bar 52 is spaced from the plate portion 53, as shown in Fig. 4.

' As said sleeving device moves to station l2,l the valved corner 5B of the bag is spread apart as in Fig. 7, and placed in position upon the plate portion 53 as above explained. As this substantially plane spread corner area is placed over the plate portion 53, the corner creases IE5, lill engage interiorly of the bag, the respective beveled corners 53', 53', and the creases at IM in the gusset surfaces engage the edg'eY 53" interiorly of the bag. As shown best in Fig. 3, the gusseted walls of the bag extend downwardly from the plate 53 and beneath the plate 22 so that the bag is maintained in the described position as the operation continues. When the bag is thus positioned, the inner edge portions 5i of the bag valve extend onto the plate 53 far enough so that said edge portions overlie'and engage the adhesive stripe 8| and fit snuglywithin the crease 19.

As the sleeving device passes to stations C and D, the roller 14 engages the lobe of cam 38. Thereupon, the upper edge of bar 62 is swung outwardly and downwardly, engaging the sleeve portion 84 of the supplemental sheet and pressing such portion into engagementY with the spread corner 5B of the bag. When the bar 52 is in the position shown in Fig. 5, the sleeve portion 84 is completely folded over, and the inner edge 6| of the bag valve is pressed firmly against the glued portion 83 and adhesive stripe 8i of the supplemental sheet. 'Ihe parts may remain in this posititon as the sleeving device passes stations E and F, thus allowing the glue to set whereby the supplemental sheet is firmly secured to the bag.

At station G, the roller 14 again engages a low part of the cam 38 with the result that the outer edge of bar 62 moves upwardly out of enu gagement with the supplemental sheet. As the sleeving device passes on to station l-I, the bas may be removed, whereupon the supplemental sheet and spread corner of the bag are folded inwardly along the central fold line m2 so that said supplemental sheet forms a sleeve in the valve, as indicated by Fig. 8, and extends a short distance outside the bag. Fig. 8 shows substantially the positions which the sleeve edges and portions 82, 84, 85 will assume on the finished bag. The bag is now ready for sewing of its open ends or other processing.

It will be apparent that the present invention simplifies and facilitates the hand operations previously required to insert a supplemental sheet in sleeve-forming position upon a valved bag. Moreover, after the supplemental sheet and bag have been placed in their respective positions upon one of the sleeving devices, no further hand operations are necessary until the bag is ready to be removed and creased to form the tuck-in sleeve in the valve. Furthermore, the speed of operation may be so regulated that the adhesive has 'ample opportunity toset before vthevbag is removed, thus insuring that the supplemental sheet lwill not slip from its desired position with respect `to the spread corner of the bag as may frequently happen ywithjthe usual manual operations. It will be further apparent that the apparatus may be made of durable construction and is very simple and dependable in operation for insuring accurate placement of the sleeves.'

`While the invention has been described with respect to a present4 preferred embodiment which has given satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understandingk the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the'spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended, therefore, in the appended claims to cover all such changes Vand modiiications.V Y AWhat is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. n apparatus for applyingv supplemental sheets to form sleeves in valve bags, a rotatable table, anda plurality of sleeving devices disposed around the periphery of saicltable, each of said sleeving devices comprising aV support for holding a supplemental sheet in position to be en# gaged by the spread valve corner of `a bag, a substantially horizontal plate for supporting the bag with the spread corner thereof in engagement with a portion of said supplemental sheet, and a folder member operable upon rotation of said table to press another portion of the supplemental sheet against the spread corner of the bag so that said other portion engages and is retained in engagement with the spread corner, said folder member being releasable upon. further rotation of said table to permit the bag to be removed from the sleeving device with the supplemental sheet in sleeve-forming position on the spread corner.

2. In apparatus for applying supplemental sheets to form sleeves in valve bags, a rotatable table having a plurality of sleeving devices spaced around the periphery thereof, each of said sleeving devices comprising a guide plate, an inclined back plate for receiving a supplemental sheet and adapted for holding same under the inuence of -gravity and for supporting the same cooperatively with and adjacent to said guide plate, said guide plate being adapted to receive a bag with a spread valve corner thereof in engagement with a portion of said supplemental sheet, and means operable upon rotation of said table to fold another portion of said supplem'ental sheet into engagement with the spread corner, said last-named means being releasable upon further rotation of said table to permit the bag to be removed from the sleeving device with the supplemental sheet in sleeve-forming position on the spread corner.

3. In apparatus for applying supplemental sheets to form sleeves in valve bags, a table rotatable upon a vertical axis, a plurality of sleeving devices disposed around the periphery of said table, each of said devices comprising a support extending generally inwardly and upwardly adjacent the edge of said table for holding a supplemental sheet in position to be engaged by a spread valve corner of a bag, a substantially horizontal plate adjacent the base of said support and protruding outwardly from the table, said plate being adapted for supporting the bag with a spread corner thereof in engagement with a portion of said supplemental sheet, a supplemental sheet folder, and mechanism for operating said folder in response to rotation of said table to press another portion of said sheet against the spread corner of the bag, said folder being releasable upon further rotation of the table to permit the bag to be removed from the sleeving device with the supplemental sheet in sleeve-fonning position on the spread corner,

4. In apparatus for applying supplemental sheets to form sleeves in valve bags, a rotatable table having a plurality of sleeving devices spaced around the margin thereof, said table being rotatable about a vertical axis, each of said devices comprising a substantially horizontal guide plate for supporting and spreading a corner of a valve bag, a supplemental sheet support extending generally inwardly and upwardly adjacent the edge of said table for supporting a creased supplemental sheet having an adhesive coated portion whereby the adhesive coated portion is adjacent and parallel to said plate and in engagement with said bag corner, said guide plate being adjacent the base of said support and protruding outwardly from the table, a supplemental sheet folding arm, and mechanism for operating said arm' in response to rotation of said table to fold another portion of said sheet into engagement with the spread corner, said sheet folding arms being releasable upon further rotation of said table to permit the bag to be removed from the sleeving device with the supplemental sheet in sleeve-forming position.

5. In apparatus for applying supplemental sheets to form sleeves in valve bags, a table rotatable about a vertical axis having a plurality of sleevingdevices spaced around the margin thereof, each of said sleeving devices comprising an inclined back plate for supporting a supplementary sheet having adhesive upon a portion thereof, said back plate extending generally inwardly and upwardly adjacent the edge of said table, a substantially horizontal guide plate adjacent the base of said back plate and protruding outwardly from the table, said guide plate having a beveled and inclined valve corner receiving and spreading portion adapted for retaining a spread valve corner in engagement with said adhesive covered supplementary sheet portion, a folding bar for engaging said supplementary sheet and folding another portion thereof over said valve corner, and mechanism' operating said bar in response to rotation of said table and releasable in response to further rotation of said table.

EDRIC W. VREDENBURG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 683,551 Landfear et al. Oct. 1, 1901 870,619 Fidel] Nov. 12, 1907 948,439 Beam Feb. 8, 1910 1,118,734 Brownson Nov. 24, 1914 1,947,041 Gideon Feb. 13, 1934 2,387,274 Lee Oct. 23, 1945 

